As always the Reebok Coach Wood Invitational is one of the most anticipated and competitive meets of the Fall as teams are beginning their run to prepare for Region and hopefully earn a berth to Carrollton. Looking at the entry list and the rankings, this should be an incredible meet. On the girls side, 7 of the top 10 all-class (including all 4 on the watch list), and the entire top 10 from AAAAA will be racing in the Championship Girls race. A few teams typically don't run everybody as some runners may be resting/healing to be prepared for the post-season. Individual races (if I'm looking at this right): Marshall, Akande, Schaich, McDaniel, Bowles, Centner, Woods on the girls side (WOW!)
On the boys' side, 6 of the All-Class top 10, plus Flowery Branch, Centennial, and Harrison from the watch list will be putting on their spikes. Top individuals will be Erassa, George, Galindo, Anyan, McCormack, Spevacek in the boys' race.
This year the Gainesville College course has been untested due to the growth of the Campus and the fee required to lease the course for the day, but Coach Wood is traditionally large enough to make it possible. Concerning race day conditions, Coach Christie commented there are going to be some sloppy parts of the course. But compared to the Gwinnett County Meet, should be nothing too bad. The main part I noticed last week that hasn't drained from the previous big rain, was after you make the u-turn by the pond, and then go down the slight downhill before you go uphill toward the starting field. Water is pooled up there and will be a muddy/wet section. Temps though promise to be "classic" Coach Wood conditions with rain beginning to subside Friday and a low of 45 by 6am and a high of 53 per weather.com
Also, in attendance will be Reebok athlete Nick Willis, Bronze Medalist in the 1500 in Beijing, Nick will be on hand to sign autographs. There will be concessions available for purchase: Chick-Fil-A biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. This year we will have a hospitality tent for coaches! Reebok meet shirts and other merchandise will be available for purchase.
Major Players:
Championship Boys:
Brookwood-1st 5A/All Class
Collins Hill-2nd 5A/All Class
Parkview-3rd 5A/All Class
Walton-4th 5A/All Class
Mill Creek-6th 5A/7th All Class
North Hall-#1 3A/8th All Class
Lakeside Evans-#4 4A
Flowery Branch-#2 3A
St. Pius-#3 3A
Riverwood-#6 3A
Oconee-#7 3A
Creekview-#8 3A
Pace Academy-#4 1A
Watch List: Centennial, Harrison
Individuals: Erassa (Grayson), Baker (Eagles Landing), George and Anyan (Brookwood), McCormack and Barger (North Hall), Tupper (Pope), Galindo and Gatei (Collins Hill), Walker (South Forsyth), Merrall (Etowah), Spevcek and Klassen (Parkview), Knobbe (Centennial), Grant (Lambert), Ulich (Chattahoochee),
Varsity Boys:
Team:
Lakeside Dekalb-#2 4A
Winder-#8 4A
Whitewater-#10 4A
Blessed Trinity-#5 2A
Watch List: Habersham Central
Individuals: Weiden (Sequoyah), Moody (White County), Tomy (Milton), Dixon (Lakeside Dekalb), Blackwelder (Greenbrier),
Championship Girls:
Brookwood-2nd 5A/All Class
Harrison-3rd 5A/4th All Class
Collins Hill-4th 5A/5th All Class
Walton-5th 5A/6th All Class
Roswell-6th 5A/7th All Class
Parkview-7th 5A/8th All Class
Etowah-8th 5A
Centennial-9th 5A
Alpharetta-10th 5A
Lakeside Evans-#2 4A
Winder-#3 4A
St. Pius-#1 3A
Flowery Branch-#2 3A
Riverwood-#4 3A
Oconee-#7 3A
Lambert-#8 3A
Pace Academy-#6 1A
Watch list: Peachtree Ridge, Mill Creek, Chattahoochee
Individuals: McDaniel (Riverwood), Akande (Collins Hill), Schaich (Lambert), Bowles and Townsend (Lakeside Evans), Marshall (Chattahoochee), Woods (Flowery Branch), Centner (Oconee), Serres, Howell, Peele, Humphrey (North Gwinnett), Schenk (Pope), Morris (Peachtree Ridge)
Varsity Girls:
Teams:
Whitewater-#4 4A
Lakeside Dekalb-#5 4A
Blessed Trinity-#3 2A
GAC-#6 2A
Watch List: Milton
Individuals: Wetterhall and Kelly (Lakeside Dekalb), Gregory, Webb, Cope (Winder),